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Missouri: homes, climate zones and who licenses the work

Missouri has 2.8 million housing units. 52.7% were built before 1980, and the median year built is 1978. 68.1% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

How old the homes are

Missouri housing units, by year built

Layers drawn to scale

Missouri housing units by year built 52.7% of Missouri housing units were built before 1980 and 47.3% in 1980 or later. 2020 or later: 1.6%; 2010–2019: 8.0%; 2000–2009: 13.0%; 1990–1999: 12.8%; 1980–1989: 11.8%; 1970–1979: 14.4%; 1960–1969: 11.0%; 1950–1959: 9.8%; 1940–1949: 4.3%; 1939 or earlier: 13.3%. Before 1980 52.7% 1980 or later 47.3% 2020 or later 1.6% 2010–2019 8.0% 2000–2009 13.0% 1990–1999 12.8% 1980–1989 11.8% 1970–1979 14.4% 1960–1969 11.0% 1950–1959 9.8% 1940–1949 4.3% 1939 or earlier 13.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035 and B25003; heating fuel below from B25040.

Age changes what applies to a house. In general, anyone paid to do work that disturbs painted surfaces in a home built before 1978 must be certified in lead-safe work practices under the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, which the EPA administers directly in Missouri.

How homes are heated

How homes in Missouri are heated

Main heating fuel, share of 2.5 million occupied homes

  • Utility gas 49.3%
  • Electricity 38.8%
  • Propane or other tank gas 8.4%
  • Wood 2.4%
  • No fuel used 0.4%
  • Other fuel 0.4%
  • Fuel oil or kerosene 0.2%
  • Solar energy 0.1%
  • Coal or coke <0.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, table B25040 (occupied housing units).

Climate and building zones

The 2021 International Energy Conservation Code assigns every county a climate zone from 1 to 8 and a moisture regime: A for moist, B for dry, C for marine. Zones 7 and 8 have no letter. Here is how Missouri's residents divide among them, by the county they live in.

IECC 2021 zoneShare of residentsCounties
4A95%87
5A4.3%26
3A0.7%2

ENERGY STAR rates windows, doors and skylights for four climate zones of its own. Missouri spans 3: North-Central (95% of residents), Northern (4.3% of residents), South-Central (0.7% of residents).

By NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, counties here average 104 days a year with a low of 32°F or colder, weighted by where people live. The range runs from 71 days in the mildest county to 141 in the coldest.

Flood risk and flood insurance

0.4% of residential structures in Missouri carry a National Flood Insurance Program policy: 10,574 policies, in FEMA's count as of August 3, 2026.

In FEMA's National Risk Index, 4 of 115 counties rate high or very high for riverine flooding.

Fire ants and termites

No county in Missouri is inside the federal imported fire ant quarantine.

Who licenses the work in Missouri

Before anyone starts work, check the license with the agency below. Where the state does not license a trade, cities and counties may; ask the one where the house is.

Checked 2026-09-29. Licensing rules change; the agency's own page is the authority.

Sources

  1. U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035, B25040 and B25003 data.census.gov
  2. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Guide to Determining Climate Zone by County: Building America and IECC 2021 Updates basc.pnnl.gov
  3. U.S. Department of Energy Prototype Building Models (climate zones 1–8 and moisture regimes A, B, C) energycodes.gov
  4. ENERGY STAR Climate zones by county for windows, doors and skylights energystar.gov
  5. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual and seasonal ncei.noaa.gov
  6. Federal Emergency Management Agency OpenFEMA NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (as of 2026-08-03) fema.gov
  7. Federal Emergency Management Agency National Risk Index, county ratings fema.gov
  8. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Imported fire ant quarantine map aphis.usda.gov
  9. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations 7 CFR part 301, subpart P, Imported Fire Ant ecfr.gov
  10. Missouri Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Pesticide Control agriculture.mo.gov agriculture.mo.gov
  11. Missouri Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Pesticide Control apps.mda.mo.gov apps.mda.mo.gov
  12. Missouri Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Pesticide Control npic.orst.edu npic.orst.edu
  13. health.mo.gov health.mo.gov health.mo.gov
  14. epa.gov epa.gov epa.gov